Snap-hook



(No Model.) I

J. W. GALEF.

SNAP HOOK.

No. 539,666. Patented May 21. 1895.

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- proved construction and combination of parts NITE STATES ATENT Fries.

SNAP-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 539,666, dated May 21,1895.

Application filed April 5, 1896. Serial No. 544,596. m. model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH WARREN C LEF, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of North Easton, in the county of Bristol and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Snap-Hooks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of thisspecification, and in which I have shown my improved snap-hook in sideelevation, with the barrel in longitudinal section, so as to show theinterior spring and other de-' tails of construction.

My invention relates to devices or appliances known technically andgenerically as snap-hooks, and consists in a novel and imof devices ofthat type, whereby they may be adapted to a great variety of uses. Forexample, my improved snap-hook may be used as terrets on harness; ascheck-hooks; rein holders; hold-backs; as whiffletree-hooks, and for agreat many other purposes, which will readily suggest themselves and donot require enumeration here.

Referring to the drawing, the referenceletters A and A denote,respectively, the two links or jaws of my improved snap-hook, which mayeither-as in the example illustrated on the drawing-be of even size andsnap together at the top-part, marked a (i; a, in alignment with a linepassing throughthe center of the barrel B of the hook); or one of thelimbs may be made longer than the other, so that they will snap togetheron one side of the hook, as at the point marked a. For convenience, Iprefer to construct both limbs A and A with projecting knobs orfinger-pieces,

?) b, for the easy manipulation of the hook.

One of the limbs, A, is cast integral with, or rigidly fastened upon,the enlarged upper part or head B of the spring-inclosing barrel B;while the opposite limb A is loose, and projectsthrough a slot 0 in thetop of the head B, within which it is pivoted upon the transverse fulcrum-pin O. This movable, pivoted limb Ais cast with a cam, D, projecting.

below and to one side of its fulcrum O, and

impinging with its lower end upon a cyliudrical thimble, E, the hollowcylinder of which is inserted into and plays within the cylindrical stemof the barrel B below its head or enlargementB, while the upper,slightly convex, top or cap 6 of the thimble, which is made of thickeror heavier metal, projects up into the hollow head B, so as to bearagainst the impinging lower end of the cam-shaped arm D of thefulcrumed, movablelimb A.

The cylindrical thimble E e forms a cap or sheath for the upper end of acoiled spring G, which is inserted into the barrel B, with its lower endbearing against or resting upon the top of a screw-threaded stud f,whichis screwed into the lower open end of the barrel and forms acontinuation of the bolt F, by means of which the device is fastenedupon the harness, or other article upon or in connection with which itis to be used.- The bolt F has a flange F, which, when studfis screwedinto barrel B,impinges upon the lower rim of the latter, as clearlyshown on the drawing, so that, when this device is to be used as aterret, for example, the flange F will bear against the top of thesaddle-housing, bolt F being inserted through an aperture in theharnesssaddle, and the device fastened thereto by means of a nut F atthelower screw-threaded end of the bolt. By means of this bolt F, withor without the nut F, as the case may be, the device may be fastenedupon the harnes or other part of a harness; to the ends of awhiffletree; upon the tipend of a carriage-pole (when the device is tobe used as a hold-back or wherever else it is to be applied for use.

When used as a row-lock, for example, the stud or bolt F is fastened inthe gunwale of the boat, but not rigidly, so that the hook may turn uponits axis, conforming to the movement of the oars.

Having thus described my improvement, what I claim as novel, and desireto secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

The combination, in a snap-hook, of the cythimble E having a thickenedconvex head 6; my own I have hereunto affixed my signature and thepivoted limb A extending below its in presence of two Witnesses.

fulcrum to form the cam D adapted to bear against the convex head of thethimble; sub- JOSEPH VARREN CALEB" 5 stantially as and for the purposeshown and Witnesses:

set forth. EDITH L. LANE,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as HENRIETTA M. REED.

